Audi S4 Avant – Unveiled

When Audi unveiled the S4 at Frankfurt auto show last September, it created a stir among the high performance sedan segment. It was only a matter of time before the new design is adapted to other body styles of S4 and Audi has just released the upgraded wagon counterpart of the S4 – the S4 Avant.

The S4 Avant, in a nutshell, promises better power delivery, more fuel efficiency and better style and creature comforts over the outgoing model. The S4 Avant is a technological tour de force and stay true to the Audi's slogan – Vorsprung Durch Technik (Advancement through Technology)

DESIGN

The design looks familiar and handsome, and has strong family resemblance. The angular lines and rakish touches give the styling an understated sporty elegance. The huge signature AUDI grill with the brand logo is flanked by a pair of Avant-garde headlights; the air inlets feature sharp creases which give the front an imposing look. The headlights get integrated daytime running lights.

The whole design is accented by the liberal and tasteful use of aluminum and matt grey finish – the outside rearview mirrors are finished in aluminum, and add to the sporty character. The side sills feature unique counters and the rear gets a black honeycomb grill and four exhaust pipes. There is an integrated aluminum diffuser to aid the aerodynamic efficiency.

INTERIORS

Source: https://www.netcarshow.com

The S4 Avant can seat five adults comfortably and offer luggage space of 505 liters to 1,510 liters, depending on seat configuration. A line of horizontal air vents separates the dashboard elements and gives the interior an air of ample space. The interior is finished in black, with contrasting bits done in aluminum, for that sporty feel.

The infotainment screen sits atop the central air vents. The standard seats are available in three colors (black, grey or red) and are finished in nappa leather with contrast stitching. The S4 can be outfitted with optional S Sport seats that have an integrated massage function, adjustable lateral support and integrated head restraints for your safety.

The highlight of the cabin is the new Audi Virtual cockpit – a 12.3-inch high definition, programmable screen, which replaces the traditional gauges. This eliminates all the analogue gauges and can display a digital tachometer and speedometer in classical analogue lookalike round shape, or in a futuristic digital way. The virtual cockpit includes maps, telephony, entertainment and control displays, among others. The different settings of this display can be controlled using the multi-function steering wheel.

The S4 Avant gets the new MMI operating system with a menu structure which resembles the current smartphones. The infotainment duties are done by a high definition 8.3-inch screen with MMI Touch. The MMI touch is a new way to talk to the car – it features a touchpad that can zoom scroll and can be used for giving inputs.

The S4 comes with Audi connect, which connects the car to Internet using LTE. There is an integrated Wi-Fi hotspot that can be used by the passengers to access Internet. The passengers can control the functions from their smartphones via the MMI connect app, and can lock or unlock the doors, operate the auxiliary heater or can find parking location of the car. You can also integrate your smartphone calendar to the car using Calendar transfer service.

The S4 can be specified with the optional phone box, which connects the compatible smartphones to the onboard antenna via NFC and enables wireless charging. The rear seat passengers get a fixed tablet for entertainment purpose. The optional Bang & Olufsen sound system produces high clarity 3D sounds and is a must addition for audiophiles.

ENGINE

Source: https://www.netcarshow.com

The S4 Avant is powered by the 3.0-liter V6 TFSI engine, which features direct gasoline injection and turbocharging and produces a power output of 345bhp and 500Nm torque. The torque is available from as low as 1,370 RPM so you will never feel a lag in performance. An acceleration of 0-100 km/h is achieved at 4.7 seconds and the top speed is electronically limited to 250km/h.

The engine is mated to an 8 speed automatic transmission that has short sporty gear rations for lower gears and long ratios for the upper gears, to deliver a perfect balance of power and efficiency.

The luxury car comes with the full time Quattro all-wheel drive, which has a slight rear wheel bias under normal driving. Under challenging circumstances the torque can be transferred to the desired axle to get better traction. The handling is further improved by torque vectoring and for those who want the car to be sportier, can order the car with active sport differential, which distributes torque between rear wheels.

EQUIPMENT

Source: https://www.quattroworld.com

The S4 comes with LED headlights, LED tail lights, dynamic turn signal, leather wrapped multi-spoke multi-function steering wheel, exclusive 18 inch wheels and many other bespoke features. The tailgate and luggage compartment cover gets an electric drive, and can be optionally fitted with sensor control. Features like heads up display, Audi Matrix LED headlights etc. are available as options.

The adaptive cruise control comes with brake assist that helps in bringing the car to a complete halt, if needed, and the traffic jam assist auto steers the car in traffic jams, and helps the driver to relax in long traffic snarls.